§ 602. VACANCIES IN ELECTIVE OFFICES.

Any vacancy occurring in any elective office of the City may be filled by the City Council, by resolution, adopted by affirmative votes of a majority of the quorum of the then City Council. If the City council fails, for any reason, to fill such vacancy within a period of thirty (30) days from and after such office becomes vacant, it shall, as maybe required by general law, call and hold an election to fill such vacancy. A person appointed or elected to fill a vacancy in elective office shall hold such office for the unexpired term of the former incumbent.

If at any time three (3) or more vacancies occur in elective offices of the City, the following procedures shall take place:

(a) If such situation qualifies under the provisions of a disaster as provided by applicable law and the City has provided for the preservation of local government as provided there under, such preservation shall be observed; or

(b) If such situation does not so qualify, or if such preservation has not been provided, the Governor of the State of California shall temporarily appoint qualified persons to such three (3) or more vacant offices for the limited purpose hereinafter set forth. Upon such persons being so appointed, the City Council, as thus constituted, shall meet forthwith at a time and place to be selected by the City Clerk for the purpose of calling a special election to elect qualified persons to the office temporarily filled by such appointments. Such temporary appointees shall continue to hold such elective offices until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.